Everything You Need to Know About Fluoride in Dental Products
We always come across this particular term in all dental products – fluoride. We can find it on toothpaste, floss, mouthwashes, and teeth whitening systems. So, what’s so good about it anyway? How does it work on your teeth?
I know you have other questions too, and you want answers. You don’t have to worry. I’ve already taken the liberty to do some research for you. That’s why today, I’ll do my best to break down everything you need to know about fluoride.
What Exactly is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that can be found all over the surface of the planet. It can be found either in a solid, liquid, and gas state.
Back in the 1930s, scientists noticed kids in Colorado Springs having brown stained teeth. They thought it was bad, but after a close examination, they found out that only a few kids have cavities. As they proceed with their investigation, they find out that the drinking water of that place contains high amounts of fluorine.
Scientists continued to find efficient and effective ways to utilize fluorine and fight off cavities through that discovery. That’s how it came to our toothpaste and mouthwashes.
How Does Fluoride Protect Our Teeth?
So, how does it protect our teeth? Okay. Let me break it down for you.
The outer layer of our teeth is called tooth enamel. It is made from calcium and phosphate, which makes it much stronger than our bones. Our saliva contains calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate, and our teeth are coated with it to make it much stronger.
When the bacteria that reside inside our mouth come in contact with food, they feast on the leftover food inside our mouth and release acids to our teeth. This acid slowly melts away our tooth enamel, leaving our teeth vulnerable to cavities and infections.
Thankfully, our saliva keeps coating our teeth with calcium and phosphate, which slows down the acid attack.
Our teeth directly absorb the fluoride inside our toothpaste as we use it. As the fluoride makes contact with calcium and phosphate, it binds with them, creating a much stronger defense for your teeth – fluorapatite. It’s more resilient against acids and decay.
How to Get Enough Fluoride?
If you think you aren’t getting the right amount of fluoride, don’t worry about it. Just make sure to brush your teeth twice or thrice a day with fluoride enriched toothpaste, and you’ll be fine. Almost all oral care products already contain it. So, just choose which one that suits you well.
You can get it inside bottled water too! Just check the nutritional table of the water and look for fluoride.
If you’re still anxious about it, well, you can also visit your dentist and ask him how to get more fluoride to your teeth. I’m confident that he will explain to you how much fluoride you should be taking.
Final Words
To achieve strong and healthy teeth, one should diligently take care of their teeth by brushing twice a day, flossing, using mouthwashes, and visiting the dentist every once in a while. Try using the Luelli teeth whitening system to have strong and whiter teeth.